Economic Forecasting Center, Past Conferences

 News Release
"When and What Will Jumpstart the Economy?"
Read news release from May 20, 2009 forecasting conference...

 Click the presentation titles to read the pdf files.

Conference Program

8:00 a.m.

Registration & Breakfast

 

8:30 a.m.

Words of Welcome                                                                   

H. Fenwick Huss
Dean
J. Mack Robinson College of Business
8:35 a.m. Public Infrastructure: Driver of Economic Recovery and Long-Term GrowthPDF icon
Vulcan Materials Company is the largest producer of construction aggregates in the United States and a significant producer of asphalt, concrete and cement.  Vulcan provides indispensable materials for public infrastructure projects.  Investment in infrastructure drives recovery and prosperity.  Don James, Vulcan's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will review his company's role in providing the basic materials for the infrastructure investments needed to rebuild the American economy and to provide the economic efficiency to drive future growth.

Donald James
Chairman and CEO
Vulcan Materials

9:00 a.m.

Special Q&A for Donald James

 

9:15 a.m.

U.S. Steel Market OutlookPDF icon
Throughout most of 2008 the steel market was booming despite the fact that the U.S. economy was officially in a recession. The steel boom ended in the fourth quarter of last year with the sudden market collapse and credit freeze. How deep was this market collapse? How is the steel industry, and Industrial America, now being impacted by the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression? In my presentation I will discuss the impact of the current economic turmoil on the steel market in America and how the steel industry is responding; I will analyze many of the chief steel consuming industries and some of their key dynamics; and I will try to explain what can be expected over the next few quarters while briefly taking a look into the longer term horizon.

Robert DiCianni
Manager, Marketing
ArcelorMittal USA
9:40 a.m.

Atlanta Residential Housing: What is Down the Pipeline?PDF icon
Steve Palm will explain what factors contributed to our current residential housing crisis. He will show where we are at right now as compared to past history and what we can expect for the near future.

Steve Palm
President & CEO
SmartNumbers

10:05 a.m.

Q & A

 

10:20 a.m.

Refreshments Break

 

10:40 a.m.

Economic Revival: When and How?
There is a feeling that the declining economy may have finally hit the bottom in the last few months. But, the bigger issue is do we have enough economic power to jumpstart a "proper" recovery? Dr. Dhawan's talk will examine this issue and its implications for local businesses, non-profit and government entities in the coming years. Pdf not available online

Rajeev Dhawan
Director
Economic Forecasting Center
J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Georgia State University

11:40 a.m.

Q&A and Conclusion

 

11:50 a.m.

Light lunch & Networking

 

 

 


Industry Speakers

Donald James
Chairman and CEO
Vulcan Materials Company

 Donald James

BIO- Donald M. James was elected Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vulcan Materials Company in February 1997 after previously serving as President and Chief Operating Officer, President of the Southern Division, and Senior Vice President of the Construction Materials Group. He was first employed at Vulcan Materials in 1992 as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Prior to his service at Vulcan Materials, Don practiced law from 1977 to 1982 at Bradley, Arant, Rose & White. He progressed from an Associate attorney to ultimately becoming a Partner of the firm.
 
Don received his BS and MBA from the University of Alabama and his JD from the University of Virginia where he was Executive Editor of the Virginia Law Review and in the Order of the Coif.
 
From 1972-1974, Don served as 1st Lieutenant and Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Finance Center.
 
Don serves as a director for Vulcan Materials Company, Southern Company, Wells Fargo & Company, U. S. Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, UAB Health System, UAB President's Advisory Council, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, Birmingham-Southern College, Children's Hospital, University of Alabama President's Cabinet, University of Virginia School of Law Business Advisory Council, Boy Scouts of Central Alabama, Birmingham Museum of Art.

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Robert DiCianni
Manager, Marketing
ArcelorMittal USA

 Robert DiCianni

 

BIO- Robert DiCianni is a Manager in the Marketing Office of ArcelorMittal USA, located in Chicago, Illinois. In this capacity he is involved in economic analysis and forecasting for key steel markets, market research for future steel needs, and strategy development. He is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank's Industrial Roundtable and is a regular contributor to the Fed's Beige Book report.  He has 30 years of experience in the steel industry and has worked in the US and Europe. He is a frequent speaker at conferences discussing steel industry issues and forecasts. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees from Loyola University of Chicago.

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Steve Palm
President & CEO
SmartNumbers

Steve Palm
BIO- Steve Palm is the President and CEO of Smartnumbers, a residential housing research and consulting firm specializing in tracking and analyzing statistical data on home, lot and land sales in the Southeast. Smartnumbers data and studies are utilized to evaluate and optimize the feasibility and marketability of proposed or current real estate development projects. Major past projects include the Mall of Georgia Growth Analysis and Atlantic Station Marketing Analysis. Smartnumbers clientele include major builders, developers, financial institutions, utilities and governmental agencies. Steve is regularly sought out for his views on real estate topics and trends by many publications including the Wall Street Journal, Atlanta Journal and Constitution and Atlanta Business Chronicle and has appeared on Atlanta affiliates of CBS, ABC and FOX television.  Steve is the keynote speaker at Smartnumber's very popular "Housing Market Summit" presented twice a year for Atlanta's real estate, developer and banking professionals. Steve earned a BS in Management from Northern Illinois University and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

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